HIS DOE, HIS DAMNATION (An Erotic Billionaire Romance) novel Chapter 158

Meadow’s POV:

Alaric gasped softly. “Meadow-”

“Whatever filial love I used to feel for my father disappeared a long time ago, Alaric. My father was a monster, and I have no doubt that he still is. The last thing I want is for him to be released. But that’s the fucking problem,” I sobbed. “I’m not supposed to be okay with this. What kind of person would I be if I were okay with my father being locked up in jail for a crime he didn’t commit? What kind of person would I be if—”

“Hey,” he whispered harshly. “This is all on me, Meadow. Don’t blame yourself. Blame me.”

I shook my head profusely. “I can’t. I can’t blame you. I’m selfish like that. I know you, and I know that if I say I want Clint to be released, you’ll get right on it without any form of hesitation.”

His jaw clenched and I instantly knew that I was right. The truth was that Alaric didn’t make my life miserable. My family did. I didn’t know what would have happened to me if my father wasn’t thrown in jail and my mother didn’t kill herself.

I would’ve been subjected to more torture. Maybe, my father could’ve even killed me and covered it up since he was so fucking powerful.

Maybe Alaric wouldn’t have found me, and somehow, among all other things, this made me the most scared.

I couldn’t imagine a life without him in it. Couldn’t imagine being with anyone else except him.

“I won’t ask you to do that,” I continued softly. “I don’t want him to be released. Ever. I just wish… I just wish you’d told me about this a long time ago instead of making me go through this. Instead of making me feel like you don’t love me-”

“Love is all I feel for you, Meadow,” Alaric whispered. “That’s all I feel.” His thumb stroked my cheek, blue eyes darkening slowly. “My sweet, innocent doe. You have no idea how much I hate myself for hurting you. I’ll do anything… whatever it takes to get you back. I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to make up for all the hurt that I’ve caused you.”

“I don’t expect you to forgive me,” he continued, leaning in even further. “But you need to know that I love you. You need to know that for once in my life, I don’t want to hide from you anymore. This is me, Meadow. I swear it.

This is all of me.”

For a long time, neither of us moved. It was all so strange–this… calm and stillness between us. After everything that he just told me, the atmosphere was heavy. We were both torn. Both wondering who was going to take the first step.

My eyes searched his blue ones, and my brows furrowed as I struggled to comprehend it all. Alaric had suffered so much all because he wanted to protect his family. And Ingrid…

“Your mother was here a few days ago. Did you know that?”

Alaric’s eyes widened slightly in surprise. “She was?”

I nodded. “But she wasn’t mean to me. She came here to apologize, told me that there was something you were scared to tell me… Alaric, does your mother know what happened?”

He sighed. “Apparently, she does, and I only found out a few days ago.

I scoffed. That meant Ingrid knew what caused Alaric to lose his sense of touch and she didn’t do anything to help him. Didn’t talk to him. She just… remained quiet.

Just when I was considering forgiving her…

“I know what you’re thinking,” Alaric whispered. “On one hand, I’m pissed at her too for not saying anything to me. But on the other hand… I understand that she was just clueless about what to do about it and just figured that pretending was easier. But that’s not what I want to talk about, baby. I… I need to know.”

I started to look away but he gripped my chin gently. “Don’t. Please. Just tell me what you need and I’ll give it to you. You want space? Just… please, say something to me, Meadow. Talk to me.”

My lips parted. Alaric’s eyes were red–rimmed as his gaze dropped to my lips, like he was waiting for my every word and was ready to hang on it.

“Please, baby,” he whispered.

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